NAFL 1B
Newcastle Town 3 Portaferry Rovers 0
By Alan Imrie
SATURDAY’S clash between Newcastle and Portaferry was a real six pointer with both sides knowing, coming into the game, that the winning team would move clear of the NAFL 1B relegation zone.
A cagey affair saw a nervous start from both teams, with players determined not to make any mistakes that could prove costly to their side.
As the game wore on Newcastle began to take control exerting their authority in the final quarter of the match to win 3-0.
A slow start to the fixture saw the respective midfields of Newcastle’s Dodds, Curran, Moore and Mulholland battling for supremacy with Rover’s Curran, Wilson, Milligan and Smyth.
The pace of Newcastle’s Curran and Savage caused the Portaferry defence some anxious moments but unfortunately for Newcastle, both players were not clinical enough when presented with opportunities to score.
Defences were largely on top with Newcastle’s Bonny, Hayes, Doyle and Keaveney, ensuring keeper McCarthy had little to do while Shane Bright, Brian Fitzsimmons and Niall Milligan prevented the Newcastle front men from getting a clear sight of keeper Pearce Smyth’s goals.
Newcastle shuffled their pack at the interval and made some tactical changes, but it wasn’t until the 69th minute that they started to take control of the game.
Read the full report in the current issue of the Mourne Observer.
